You pay RM5k u get old kancil.

You pay RM350k u get Mercedes C-Class.

Dont be a cheapskate people. Especially on wedding pictures.

This post has been edited by JeggaSimple: Apr 23 2012, 12:04 PM

about the ratio - i think it is inevitable for newbie (like me). It is better to shoot more (especially trying different setting, angle, style) than shoot less. Honestly, i shoot about close to 1,600 photos during my 1 week overseas trip to China early this month. Only about 500 shots are good, another 800 is ok after some retouching, the rest is to be discarded. But i do learn a lot from the 300 photos that being discarded, will definitely take note of these lessons on my next trip.

as a hobbyist, i just shoot my private photos. I did once do wedding photography for my wife's good friend on the wedding day but not on commercial basis, just tag along with another photographer. Luckily the photos all turns out not bad and my wife's friends like them very much - but not pro like those professional shots lah but better than normal PnS.

This post has been edited by Cynox: Apr 23 2012, 12:11 PM

this is the problem when there is potential money and everyone has the gear.

They will always give it a try, no harm to them, but nightmare for the couple as there won't be another wedding anymore for them.

The other problem is amateur entering into the market charging professional fee, and sometimes even higher than professional fee

An experience photographer will have the right gear and will be at the right place to get the perfect shot.

Sometimes, the couple want to save $$, when they plan for wedding photographer, they straight think of: hey those xxx got and dslr, let's ask him shot

well seriously, that is wat happening, and serious enough, they accept the photos.

I have been to so many weddings where there are no photographer/videographer. Having photos for them is already something extra without paying much. They pay more attention to pre-wedding day.

I know someone who engaged the famous Enya Mareine for their pre-wedding, but no photographer for their actual day !

I duno lol....Im not pro hehe.

i get your point, but how about freelance who are charging at a no so cheap price too?

anyway, these days there are many people like this, not just DSLR, but whatever hobby they have, or they just learn something little and think they know everything, and thought 'hei, i can earn easy money!'

i know someone who just learn a few lessons of make up from a freelance make up teacher, then decided to open her own small make up shop, including helping people to make up during wedding and such lol

Yeah got so many new photographers going into the biz nowadays.

The best advise for future couple is to ask for their portfolio of their previous work.

What you can expect. Thats all.

Well...with everything, do research, don't blindly go and hire people without knowing what they can provide. This makes it harder for aspiring photographers to get in (which can be seen as both a positive and negative).

Off topic, what's the keeper rate for everyone here?

BTW, Jegga, what happened to that thread in kopitiam abt you?

Indeed. New photographers should make friends and try to follow established wedding photographers first. You can learn how tos etc.

But most will reply "no la, i can take it, no need follow people"

Closed already la

Looks like their pre-wedding photoshoot took up the bulk of the cost.

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Added on April 23, 2012, 2:30 pmlet's not use the word freelance.

people tend to think freelance = cheaper, lower quality. this is not true.

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Added on April 23, 2012, 2:34 pmin the UK, they have associations like RPS, BIPP and MPA. So they could easily source the photographers from those organizations.

And if they face any problem, they could even report them to the association.

that said, for anyone who wants to go into wedding photography, it's best to gain some experience by being a 2nd shooter. Or if not, sometimes friend no budget but having a wedding, you can take the opportunity to shoot for them.

1. your friend will always be grateful on what you've given to them. (don't charge them la. you newbie mah)
2. you will gain some experience
3. due to your free service and they get pic, usually they won't complain. give them decent photos of course.

it's a win-win situation. Nothing wrong with giving a few free or discounted sessions to gain experience. That's the way to go. After you have experience and portfolio, you can raise the price to justify your service and delivery.

Very broadly I'd have to agree with goldfries cause he has it right. Best to get a mentor to learn the ins and outs of the profession.

I got bored after doing 1 wedding so I stopped doing it. No feel.

freelance means they are self employed and is not attached to any employer/bridal or wedding house.

And there are a few types of freelancer. Those who work professionally and those who do it for leisure. Professional is expected to deliver the best and will charge at professional fee. Those who do it for leisure is the one you need to look into. They can do it for free for the fun of doing it and there are those who do it as 'side' business. The ultimate is always those doing it as 'side' business, doesn't charge high, but deliver quality photos.

I don't mean to be an arse by quoting, but according to John Langford in Advance photography, and to my logical understanding, isn't freelance means they do it for leisure? If they were to shoot professionally it would mean they do it full time, professional freelance sounds oxymoron to me.

never bring a camera which cost more than the actual hired photographer is using at the wedding

some photographer very sour one

free·lance/ˈfrēˌlans/
Adjective:
- Working for different companies at different times rather than being permanently employed by one company.
- A person who sells services to employers without a long-term commitment to any of them.

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Put it this way, take me for example. I run my own business, and photography service is part of the business, probably less than 10% of the entire business.

Would you consider me a freelance? I operate under my company name.

Regardless freelance or not, or how anyone wants to define it - service provided is what it is, regardless who you're operating under. Delivery is expected.

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Added on April 23, 2012, 3:25 pm1. how you gonna know?

2. not the photographer's business to know what camera you bring, isn't it?

As long as you don't get into his way, and he get his job done. It's good. Why do you have to bring a camera to someone's wedding anyway?

1 n 2, in fact both party dunno

like u say, y wanna bring a camera to someones wedding anyway

but from wat i see know, a wedding venue, most of the guest sure bring their camera, be n actual cam or thru the mobile phone ones

some even fight for a better position with the main photographer, hahahhaha

Just imagine what would a freelance writer, freelance web programmer and freelance designer would do and you will have a similarity for freelance photographer. Some make a living out of it doing freelance as well.

Are they categorised as professional ? cause i've not heard of a professional web programmer or professional designer, maybe a professional photographer and maybe professional writer. And their work is on par with those hired in corporate

And i know there are a lot of freelance photographer working for big firm like National Geographic and Associate Press. Simply because it doesn't make sense for them to hire a photographer and send them to Antarctica, Amazon jungle or some place having civil war for few months just for a few photos. Too costly for them. So they engaged these photographers who work on freelance, to do it.

That's why i say, there are those who do it for leisure, and there are those who do it as making a living out of it, a professional. Yes freelance professional photographer sounds oxymoron to me as well. What i'm saying is, there are photographers who overlap between freelance and professional photographer and their charges won't be low.

I actually rather busy eating the food than bringing camera to wedding dinner. I pity the photographer no time to eat nice meal and follow ppl around to get the moment shot.

food here is really bad, hahahhahahah